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PLATE I

l\Joclallion in cmnmemomtion of the Sittmose Embassy to France, 1686.

1-'t·om Histoire

FOUR FRENCH SlATE MANUSCRIPTS (1)

relating· to Emba:,;sios between Fmnco aud Siam

in tho xvnth century

by

E. W. l-IU'l'CIJINsoN, l\I. A. CmJtab.

FmmwoJw

183

Between Lhe year:> Hi80 ttnd Hi8t:l, Siam sent three Heparate poli-tical mis:>ion;; to France:-

(l) Under P'ra P'ipat, an Embai:lsy in lGSO, which was lost at SOnt Sunt'on, an Embttssy in 1686. P'ra ·wisut is commonly known aH Koslt Pan. ·

. In reply, Fmnce sent two expeditions:-'l,he first, politifm.l, in 16tl5, under Ambassa.dor de Cht11..11nout

----- ·---~~--~---''"~-----,.------~-----~---···--·--

(l) The fom· umnusc1·ipts l>l'eHented m·e as follow;::-l. Qu:ti d'OrRay, l\'lemoil·e::; et Doenment:

T f1·om 'l'n,elm1·d, ek., (f:leritture rifet·ite uei Cougre~Hi).

h) Heference iti made in the text to the following pnhlicationH : 1, Jo~wna,l dt6 voyage cle S·ict?n en fo?'riW de lett1·es farn·ilie1'es, pnr

:M-L-D-0 (Abbe de Cboisy), Pm·iH, 1685, 1770, HJ30, 2. Et·nde histo1·iq~te sw· les ?'elntiuns de lc6 Pmnce et d·tt ?'O;JJC6?.t?JW de

Siam cle 1U62 c't 1703 ..... by Lneien Lnniel', Vcr~:dlle,, lSSil. Uontn.ins references to MSS nt, the ]\iiuiHtry of M u.l'iue uml Colouies

:Lt P:tl'iH.

il. L'e:cpeclition de Sia?JI, em xvn° s·i1?cle, l1y Etimnte GnlloiH, uxtmdi ft·um '• l\loniteur UuiverHel ", Ang. 1850. '

Coutn,iHH refe.t·euceo> to M f::\8 :d; the MiniHtry of 1\j ariue :tml ColonieH nt Pn.riH.

4, A ?'econl of ?'elations between S·iwm a?ul fm·eiyn count?"ies, Bnugkok, 191 G.

Oout1LinH retH·ints of the MSS id; the lndi1t Office relating to Si:uu in t,he xvnth centnl'y.

£>. His~oi?·e de lc6 .i.l1iHs·ion de Siwm, 166F!- 1811, by Adrien Lannay, Pa.r1s, 1920.

Cloutn,ins e~tmets f1 om the Memoil'e~ of de Choi~y niH] Vn,chet, and J•epnntR of let;ters by de Liorme, of Plmulkon's iustructious to 1'admn1, etc. vVith refet·encec; to their ROlll'CC 11,8 the Arcbivetl of the Fm·rligu J\li~~ions.

M:L~HIHCH'ipts at the Foreign l\ti::;~ions m·e denoted by tlieletters 11'1. B. ~ollowetl by volume and folio number .. '.l'hose n.t the Propagnmln. Ill Home, by the letters: Scr. Itif.

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l''l'. II] FOUJt b'ltENCH K'I'A'l'E MAXUSCRIP'l'i'\ 185

In l!Hi4, the seventh yettr ol' P'nt Nn,mi'H l'eigu. tlte Dutch repen.ted

their bullying tncticR, tmcl theruh.Y ohtrtinud ft·eRh concesflions from Siam. Theil.' conquest or tho Oe.lebos CttUscd tho King of the Macn.Rst1rs to tn,ke refnge in Sia.m, whm·e his proHimce :-;ervml to J'emind P'nt N:tmi or the powor anclmmmce of l:folland.

'l'o meet thiR mmmee, the policy of P'm Nand n.ppenl'H to hn.ve been to oit'm· n. Conces.sion in the tel'l'itoey of hiH vassals in the Peninsula, to ouo of tho Emopean rivn.ls of the Dutch. '!'his rival Power was to lH) permitted to erect fortifiwtions in the Concession n.nc1 garrison

it with troops who wonlcl be l'eady to asRio.;t Siam in the event of tronhle with the Dntch, hut was not in vi ted to settle in plll'ely Siamese tereitol'y.

An offer w:1~ fir.st made to the English. '!'heir Agency ftt Ayut'ia had been l'e-opencrl in 1674 hy three reyn·esentativos or the East Indin, Oompttny, who came from Brtntam in Jrwa. 'l'he Sitlmese offered them the port of Patani, ·whieh they wem to fortify as the

English in Inc1it1 lutd fortified lVfttclras. A young .Englishman, Samuel Potts, was .sent down to the Penin,cmb with orclerl'l to report to the

Compn.ny upon the value of tho Rimnese offer. He found Patani

engnged in a loca,l WM'. The parent Agency u.t Brtntttm imlistod that

tho Sin.mese should contract to huy 11 fixed amount of good8 each year

fl'om the Cmnpr1ny, nnclmeeting with a refmml, decided to withclmw

its interest from Sirtm. 'l'hi.s llecision was confh·med by n letter from the Bon,rd of the Ea8t Imlir1 Coy in I.ondou, in which the ofi'er of the Simncse waH definitely refm;ed. \l)

:Meanwhile, Fren~h lVT.issionaries lu1rl estftlJli.'lhecl t.hmnse]yes a,t

Aynt'in, in lG62, and eventually attmcted tho notice of P'rn, Nrtn"Li. The l'efmlt of their interconrHC \Yith the Court of Siam waH twofold:

P'm Narai heard from them of Louis XIV 11nd his victmics ovel' the

Dntch in Emope, and cleciclecl to court the fl'ienclRhip of l?rance ; while the Missionarie.s, ttsHuming thn.t P'ra Nami's interest was of a religious natme, formed hopes of converting him to Christianity.

J3i,shop Pallu, the founder of the Mission, WttH a statesman and 11

patriot as well as a great Ecclesit1stic. Side by side with his desire to convert the East, two other o~jects arc n.ppa1·ent in his letters, namely a desire to obtain the interest of Fmnce in Siam with tt

(l) llth of .Tnmu:wy 1 G8l. V. Neoo1·d of Rela.tions, vo1. iii, p. 7.

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186 E. W. HUTCHINSON [VOL. XXVII

view to securing his cornmunicatimm hy regular viHits of: French mercluwtmen to Siam, ancl 11 dmlire to increase his country'H renownY) During the periods which intervened between his three visits to Siam he snccedecl in obtaining lottorl-l from Lonis XIV to P'ra Nar:ti contt"dning an acknowledgement o1' tho llospibtlity which tho 1\fissiomtries enjoyed in Siam. 'rho flrst letter, (lVISS. No. I.), wa:-; presented to P'm Nnrai in 1678, n,nd the second in lG81. P'ra N ami's nnsuccessful a,ttempt to obtain tho interest of Engbnd occurred during the interval between the presentation of: these two letterR.

After receiving Louis' f-irRt letter, P'm Narai conceived the idoo o£ deRpatching envoys to France. 'rlmt country however w11s at war with Holluml, and although victoriouR on land, wttR not able to

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destroy. the Dutch fleet which retn,ined comnmncl of the seu until the peace of Nimegnen in l G79 opened the eastern seas more effec-tively to French shipH. This fact accounts for P'm N ami'R clelity in sending his first Em busRy to France.

rrhe Ambassador selected to represent Siam nt the French Court was P'ra P'ip'at B,a,chumaitri, an elderly diplomat, who had already led three Embassies to Chinn. HiR compnnions vvm·e Luang Sri WiRnn anrl Khnn Nak'6n Wichai. Father Oaymo, the moKt promising of the French younger MiAsionaries, n.ccompaniecl the EmbnsAy aA Intor-pl·oter.(2) 'J'he party Railed from Ayut'ia on the 24th of Decem bel', 1680, in the Vautour which the French Ea,st India Company Rent from Sumt to collect them.

~!'he voyn.ge from Pttknam to Bantam wns effected in 'the record time of eleven dayH, but the party was detail1cd there for eight months unt.il the ttrrival of the Soleil d'Orient bound for France in August 1G8l. This Rhip watered o,t Mauritius, hut was not henrd of again.

In 168:3 news reached Simn tha,t the Embassy was still expected in Europe. P'ra Narai thereupon ordered the despatch of two minor officials to France. They were to ascertain the reason of P'ra P'ip'n,t's non-arrival, and in the event of his death were to ask for, suggestions from the French Court concerning the best men.ns of cementing the growi.ng friendship between the two countries. Father B. Vachet .. -+--~ ·-----~- ------ ·-----.-·-··-··--- . ~---··----··-·-···---·-- -·--~-------~- -----

(l) v. Laun~ty, M .E., 856, p. 10. (2) v. Lmmay;, .· M.E., 110, :p. 205,

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l'~l'. II J VOlT!t FRENCH R'l'A'I'E i\fA?\USCR1!'TS 1R7

wn.s :tppointml AdviRer nnd Interpl·etur, hut he ttppm1rH to luwo 11.''1-sumed the rolo of )('fM1et· whon they ren.ched FJ•ttnce.fl)

'MS N o2. is Bishop Lanean's trmlH1ation of the .letter feom

P'yn. Kos11, Minister of 'l'reasnry, to tlw French Fol'Oign Ministel', Coluert, the ttblc RUCeloRROl' or Cnrdh1t11 }\{[1,7,[1l'i1l. P'ya KoRa

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188 E. w. H U'l'OHIN80N [voL. xxvn

interested in Siam on let"tl'ning that Plmnlkon, the King':-; fnvolll'ite, waH a recent Convert of tho Portuguese Je:-;nitR. Vtwlwt :mys that it was only nfter this interview with de L:1 ClmiHe that rlo Soignelny received the Envoy: he then tolll them tlmt France WU.fl rn·opnring an Em-bttflRV for Si:Lm to nrge its King to accept Christi:mity.

B;th the State Paper and Vachet's 1\f cmoirs lmwe no r1oubt, con-cerning LoniA XIV' A interest iu proselytising in Sinlll. H iH intention nppetus to have been to ask for P'ra Nttmi's conversion n.s the price Siam was to pay for alli1111Cc with Fmnee. So long us thet·e nppeared to be any prospect of imposing Christianity 011 Siam, the oH'er of Singont wtts not even considered by Louis. ~

'l\vo men-of-war were detailed to carry tl10 EmhnHsy to Siam. Their names and those of their officers togethm· with the JH:n·sonel of the Embassy :1re given by , Fathers de Fontaney, 'L'n,chard, Le Comte, Gerbillon, Bonvet and de Visdelou, with a £n1l equipment of telescopes, Rcxtants, etc., a liRt of which is given in de ChoiRy's book.

'l'he six Jesuits carried letters patent ism10ll by Louis XIV. on the 28th o£ .January 1685, ordering them to proceed to India n,nd China in order to take such observations as were necessary to correct existing charts in the intereRt of science and of safety at se11. Although not offici1tlly commissioned for Siam, their service~c~ were used there to minister to P'ra Narai's interest in scientific matters; and with the exception of Fr. Tachard, who returned to France when the.Embassy was over, they appear to have remained in Sit~-ln for some time .

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1"1'. II] Fl nm IIHBNCH STA~L'E MANUSCRlPTS ]gg

'l'ht! ' l I' l l'i!lltttllll vt· '' l e Cluwrnont'H suite consisted of six gentlemen ~Tt•sst·s. tlc! Bl!l~t•villl·, il'Arllmwillc, Palu, de Oompiegne, de 111 Forest: nne! .lt!IWIHIS. '!'bey tmvellml in anavt11 frigate, Ln .Jllaligne, or 24 .~uns, tmd1·r ChpL:tin .Toycmx, ttnd his mltteR, de Sibois and de Cli:uttll tot·• •n 11. '

du ( 'hoisy's di•KrTiption o!' the \'Oyttge out and homo is well worth t·ea•l.ing·. Ea1~h \'ll~·nge occnpiecl tthout :-;ix months, but only one c·asttttlty lll!l'lll'l't'.tl, tlw tlettth of young cl'Arhouvi\le, who was buried in Llw (lull',,[ Nittm.

'l'h" thirtl nw,nn:-;cript iR 1le Chaumont's account o:l' hiR Embassy, lluluul t.,, arlntit that the irlca o£ converting P'ra Naraiby the aid ~f tliplolnat·y ettllw as tt snrpriKe both to the French BiRhop in Siam, Mgt·. Lalh!a11,, mH:l to Phaulkon, whose services he solicited on the Bishop's advice.

dt.l Ulta nmont porsi:-;te

190 E. w. HU'l'OHINHON [VOL. XXVT!

Both de Choisy and the Bislwp'H AdviHl'·l', de Lioww, W

P1'. II] FOUR FH.ENCH S'l'A'l'E MANUSCH.ll'1~S 191

were to eonsi !tssmued thnt the French would make tt settlement in one or other of these two towns.

'l'he ofi'er of Singora as the site for t1 French fortified post wfis not to he accepted until the rivttl merits of: Lakon had been weighed. Ueferenee is then made to 11 promise thttt Bfingkok was to he occupied hy the French, and the possibility iR enviRaged that the King of: Sinm would not tolemtc l1 French fortified Rettloment at Ringon1 and Lttkon fiR well ns at Bangkok, in which case the Envoys wm;e to rest content with nn nnfortifiod trading post rtt either Sing-om or Lttkon, contenting themselves with It gmTison at Bangkok. Tho

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192 R w. HlT'I'CliiNNON [VoL. XXVII

these gentlemen were rettdy to sttil in Mnrcli 1089, lmt wet·o dis-

handed when news of Plmulkon's death rmtehed Fmnco. (l) de Choisy was de Chaumont's sec:ond in the gmhttHHy, and it iA

incredible that he should have boon ignomnt of Hnelt 1111 important unofficial offer to his ehief ns tlmt of Bangkok, since hn wnA respon-Aible for nmintaining eontnct between Plmul kon and de Chaumont. }Jttd he been aware of the offer, would he not have mentioned it in his private memoirs which were written without reAel'\'C?

Lnstly, the Abbe de Lionne, tt shrewd ohHerver of political matters in Siam, who tteeompnnied the expedition, expressly stateH that when it reaehed Java on its way to Siam, Fnther 'raclutrrl was 1:1ent on. in advance to prepare Plmulkon for the cletermimttion of the French to occupy Bangkok, and that on its arrival, Tacharcl cnmn on bcxwcl

and told de Lionnp that they wore to be aclmitted.(2) Ln.nier and Gallais quote state papers showing tlutt. the French

troops were only admitted on terms, namely, that they took tLH onth of allegiance to King P'm Narai and that these terms were clistnstc-fnl to the Envoys but were :10eept?d by Desfarges, the General in command of the expe~lition, who realised that his men were in no condition to fight after the voyage, during which a third of their number had perished from siclcness.

In the Illustrated History of France(il) at the Bihliotheqne Na-timmle in Pnris, there is an explanatory note to the following effect

below the medallion which iA reproduced on plato I :-

"Monsieur Constance sno·!losted o{ferirw the town of Bano·kok o~ o o

"to France on condition that an expedition wnH o;ent out with "!'Jhips, solcliors and engineers together ·with • fumls to support

"them. The Chevalier de Chaumont :tncl his Aide, the Abhe "de Choisy, did not lend themselves to this proposal. A ,J esnit "named 'I'acharcl, who acted as interpreter, suggested to tho "Minister that support for his plan might be obtained fmm "Father de La Chaise through 'l'achard's mediation. He "snccoeclecl in obtaining it, and the plan ·went tht•ough, hut it "only lasted two or three years."

'l'he unreliability of the writer of this note is proved by his state-

(l) MSS at Pl'opaganch• Fede, Ro~~-e~~:.-.---~,if.,-;~~;;,-------~-(2) Launay, M. E., 850, p. 79.

(iJ) llistoire de_P?·cmoe, Collection d'Estampes, Q. i9,

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1•·r. n J ~'OUit FitEXCH H'l'A'l'E ~UNUHCJtrl''.l'S 19H

mcmt Lltnt '1\wlmrd >1etocl a~:~ interpreter between (1u Clmnmout ttncl the King of Simn. '1\wlmrd eauw to Sittm for tlte fit·~:~t time with de Ch:tmttout: his preYiom; cmrviec ·lutcl been in Amcriett. It is thus illlfHlSI'IilJ]e tllitt he COU]cl bttYO actocJ HH interpreter, lt role played by Pltn.nl kon, tts· Htttted in de Clmnmont's report .

. Documcntm·y eviclenee that the l!'t·eneh :Military expedition to Bnngkok enuw out in respom;e to tm invitation to occupy tlmt town l'l!Stl:l upon thiH rliscreclited note to the Medallion ttnd upon tho Htreugth of our i\IS No. IV, in which two ont of the three refer•

enceH have been written in by a seeoml ha,nrl.(l)

'!Jw note iLecompauying the medallion is only important in so ftw ns it reeord~> whn.t waH subsequently believed in France. 'l'he nmnu-

scl'ipt however wn.H composed before tlw expedition left France, and it HL11tes that "Bangkok was o!forcd to the French. The t·wo eot·t·ec-tions dea.l with an t1cceptttnce of the invitation.

The following is oi-i'ered ttl:! nu cxplnmttion :-

Ftttlwr '1\wlmnl, S. J., wns one of the six: n.stronomcrs despatched by Luuis to the Ettst IOl' scienti-fic reseu,rch, who tmvelled as fttl' ns Siam

with de Clmnntcmt'~:~ ErnhttsHy, ttnd who were present in Simn dming

itR sta,y there. Tachu,rcl is known to lmvo developed close and inti-

umto rcln.tions with Plumlkon while the negotiations wore in progrcRH, ttrul wn~:~ actuttlly entrusted by the latter with tho seet·et mission to tlw French Court alrmtcly mentioned. Taclmrd would know that the

King of SitLlll lmd asked de Chaulllont fcJl' the f:lcrviees of one of .the

llletnbot•s or hiH stttff, de Forbin, to modemise the defences of Bangkok, !Lncl he umy conceivably h:we concluded tlmt since the Bttngkok fortH were :tlready counl'\n,ndecl by a F'renehnmn, they might be considered

(l) U iH t.l'IIC Llm1; J;be pnblislwtl ve~·Hion of de CJhoisy'H Memoii·et! (ell. Midmwl itlHl l'onjonbt) 011 p. en 2, cont:Lim; the st:Ltement that Plmnlkon umde rLJl offel' ()f Bangkok J;o !le Olmnmont nnrl de ChoiRy which they l'efus-etl. Absence of a.ll l'efenmcfl to thir; Rt:Ltemeut in the unetlited version of the,;e 1\'lemoir~, ( M.E. vol. 8. ), t•ecluces it for pm·pot;eH of evidence to the smne level n.s the mecltdlion.

Vi1·gile Pinot, in his reeenUy publiKhetl wol'lc, LeG OMne et leG formation de l'esp1·it pkilosophirJ1.ll3 en 1i'mnce, quotes nmny inst;n.nces of the "editing" of publiHhed wol'ks on the rntl't of the J emits, and emphnHiKes the pl'epcmdemt-ing of 'l':wlmt·cl, writing on p. 58:-

" :Et meme nons ponvom; nons tlemn.udet· jnsqu'a quel point le Jesuite "o;'t'~tn.it laiHH

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194 E. W. JlU'l'CHLNSliN [VoL. XXVIl

as promised t,o French occupation. lu tlmt ense lw W1mlervices at Bangkok, which should have been emr)loyed as leveraO'e for obtainitw a footin~ • 0 . 0 ~ in that place for the French.

'l'he possibility is not excluded that Phaulkon had a notion tlw.t the French might send out troops to enable P'm Narai to cope ·with the Dutch menace and that he allowed. Tn,chard to believe that they would be invited to occupy the nmv citadel in course of construction ....

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l'T. 11] l!'UUlt l!'ltEl\UH S'l'A'J'Jmit:;. Finding opinion in :Fmnce uxttsperatecl t1gttinst Sit1m ltl:l a l'csult of de Oht1umont's failure, 'l'aelmrd, it is suggestud, mmd the bttit of a French gttrrison in Ba1;gkok to obtttin Louis' consent to Ph:1nlkon's plan. 'l'he matter eoulcl not be made public until ~l'achnrd had rotnmed to Siam a.nd obliged Phnul'kon to give efl'ect to it.

'l'his theory accountfl for the eolTections mttde in the Obset·vtttimm on 'rrade for the EnvoyH. It alHo accounts for 'l'nchard's movements in proceeding ,from Bt1t1:wia to Siam in advance of the expedition t1nd in meeting it on its 11rl'ivt1l at the bar with the news tlmt its ttdmittance into Bttngkok lmd been armuged. 'l'he final instructions

for thu Envoys, which have been publi:>hml,(l) in:>istcd that Bangkok was to be occupiucl, if lllll!OHHary by fm:ce ; though there were good grounds to bulievc that force would not he needed. 'l'hese grounds would be reliance upon 'l'nc!u1l'd'H rneditttion,-according to thiH explamtti

196 1£. \V. J[U'I'Uil!Ni·H>~ [\'I>J,, XXVII.

conducted on the French Hitlu with a. l'anlty knu\\'lullgn h.>Llt ol' the real po~:~itiou reganling n ehange o[ ndigio11 by Llte King, ~~hK> ol' Llw clmnceH of sncceHs likely to ttcCt'lW 1'!'()111 n mi libtry occupation of B11ngkok with a, stmtll Enrupca,n fot·cu, Hot tu ttumt.ion the cliflicnlty

of effecting this occuptttiou. Ou the Siamese sitlc, Pha.nlkon'8 diploHilte,\' WttH tlw l'llHUit ol' an

nttempt to combine hiH loytdty to .P'm N ttmi mnl to thu ;) e:-mits with his own ends, if we regar1l them as du:-;i ru for powut· and fur the Hnpport of foreign ~:~olcliet'H upon which lw might dupund in tltu event of the l(ing'~> death.

His failure ltty in his Ch·eek aptitude for tineHHu ancl tt·id;.ury which antagonised the Freucl1 npon whom hu reliud m the bst resOl't for hi:; personal Httfet y.

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QUAI n'Qw,AY,

(591'0 ) Sittlfl

1\H~wmr,:,; E'l' DoouM~sentiellus CFt'ilH uous ttnoiunt non

seulement a cau~>e Je ln. prote~;tion que nous leur donn1~H 1lnns l'exor-cice de ln religion chrestienne et de b generosite ~no vons tLnez en de leur prester sans interest clnml leur extreme be::;oign vue HOJn lll e dttrg;

considerable mnis aussi pr leur nuoir encore cloJJne de plns gmncle::;

preunes de votre libemlitc en leur faiHttut bttstir une maison pom lue~ luger.

Nous sm·ons bien aise nussy de tronner lcH occnHions do vouH

tesmoigner combien nous sonunes scnsiblcs nux marques echttttntu:;

i'T. ttJ I•'UU!t l!'ltl~NCH :-l'l'A'l'E l\IAllllJSCH!P'.l':-l lU7

Cqmmbnt nons nonH prolllcttons que vuns voudrez bien continuer cettu mosuw protodiou tmx cnesrllleS Gt twx antr:os mi1-Hoiomtit·eH 1Lpostoli11HeH, (5D v) ct l'estendre aussi a 110s suiets negotians, afinqne luH UllH pniHHent tLnoir b Iiberto de l'cxercice de Itt religion chrestienue dont urw deH prineiptdleH nmximeH est cl'esttLblir l'tmtorite nbsolue dus HoyH Hlll' lenrH l:illiets ot que ]m; a ntres y puissant liboremont tmtiquot· n~ttiR pom nons umrquet' le clesir veritnble que nons anons cle reeognoiHtre tons les bienbits que noR d. flUietR ont recens de nons nom; nons enuoyow.; quelque~; presenfl que non~; 1WOHH cru c1ui nons seroiunt aggJ:enblet~ en tLttenchLnt que uou~; puissiom; non:-; donner clel:l preu~wH plus fortefl de ht haute e.~timo que nons 11nonH pour uom;. 8nr eo nou::; priom; .Dien ttLntinl ·stun of mouey h.'l\e of interm;t in the time of their dire need; fmthermme, for luwing given even greater proof of yom: libemlity in ordering 11

hou::;e to be built to lodge them. We :-;hnll be glad also to tincl opportunities for showing how greatly

we appreciate the outr;tancling proof::; you luwe gi von of the

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l!J8 1~. \V. LluTrJJJlNHo~ [Y!IL. X.XV!l

umli~:~puterl power ol: tnOlHHChH ovm· tlwir snh,iucLH, while the lattm· w.ill be enabled to trttdu without hindntncu .

.A;; 11 mark of our true cle~:~ire to aeknowleclge ttll tlw lmnotib~ whieh onr subjects ttfore~:~aid have received a.t your ltamls, we c;en1l you HUll-dry gifts snch its we think will Jiluttse yon, J!Umling ttll oppUl'tnnity to give you stronger proof of the high regnnl we lmn" fot· yon.

We heruby pray 00t1 t.lmt. he 1111ty gnlllt yon incn:tLH!Jrlreuown aml

pt·o~:~perity. 'Written ttt St. Uct'lllttin-en-Lttyu,

the lOth Jttmmry, 1081. Yonr o·oml ttud 'vell-helun:tl hioll(l.

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II

QUAl n'OusAY, lVfEIVIOIHt~H WI' Ducu~lE~TH, Asu,;, 1'1, No. :32.

(701'u) Lettre cpw Ookytt Bet•i btt'l'ttllm lbtwhrt clue]w, telmdi ttlllllHL tm Jt1Ulltchitnt pipitrn tana ltntclm commtihucli piri11 Palm ookytt pmclang eCJ:it ttnec nn ccenr pleiu d'11ffodion ut du tunclrosse A M?u-sieur Clutrle~:~ Uollmrt gmnrlmi11istro clu trus puiHHttnt d. tree; excellent Prinee J_,e Hoy cle Fmnce tt l't11ble, en cette vetie le treK pui~:~sttnt et tre~::~ mtLgntLniiue Prince lo Hoy Mou-~::~eignenr 11 enuoye an tres pui~::~su.nt Prince Le Hoy de Fnmee ook

pmpitttt matclm 'mtt!tri pom Ambttssu.deur, et uok lotlttllg sri visum Hotmtortt, et ook qmm mtkora vitehtti. pour lieutenttntl'l cle l' AmlJtLH-

I:ltLCle aecompu.gnes du Perc G11yme anec des lettreH ot cles pre~:~eml pour etre nne mttrque de l'affeetion et de l'estime extntordinu.irc

qu'il n pom ee gmncl moiuHque, et du cle1:1ir qu'il a r1ne leH proRperites

rlout il jouit ttugrnentent tonjom·s de plus en plus, com me ttns~:~y afHu quu l'ttmitie qui e~:~t Entre ccs deux Gmnds Prineo:,; preune tons ll't-i

ionrs de nouueunx nccroissements. Lorsquo lhns l'anneo ractt trini

Souc Dom fmncisco Eueque d'Heliopolis ttnimt icy rwec (70vo) deR

luttreH du Bttint Pttpo, et clu tt·es :Thfttgnanimc Prince le Hoy de Fmnce,

il fnt rueuu nvec ht nmgnificenoe que demandoit la. rm~jeste supreme

tlu Gmnrl Hoy qui l'ennoyoit; Et le treR lmut et treR excellent Prince

Le ltoy Monseigneur ttpprenant los nonuelles prosperites dont ce

Grand Prince so tronuoit eomble en reRsenti~ une joye eb une alle-

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I'T. itJ l.'l)UJt FH!!:NUll S'l'A'l'E lliANUSCltLl'TS 190

grt~sse si grmule qn'il n'y a ricn n, quoy on 1a puiince le Hoy Monseigneur ponr ttugmentcr encore Sa, joye, 1mtis lc tems de recuvoir les nouvelles etant uenu, nons ttuous ttppriH qne le Vttic;seau

r

200 R w. H. UTCHINSOC\' I_VOL. XXVll

'l'ltANSLA'l'ION

Letter written with rt lwnrt full of warm

P'l'. 11] Fmid EmbaR.'lj' to the stop.'! of the thnme of thttt nmgmtnirnons

Prince, tho Kiug, my Lord, ttll(l thereby ltdcl to hiR delight. Bt~t ttt

tho \'e.ry time wlum ncwR Wt1H clue, W!" le11l'llt that tho :-;hip cttrrying

thttt Roy a.! Em htlSRY httd not yet t'lH.1Ched Fmnee; which tidingR cansecl us..,gre:1t distress.

l\Iy firRt step W

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202 Ji}, W. Hu·romNHON [voL. xxvn

III

AROHIVEf> NATIONALES, N~;nOOIA'PIONS, K. 1.8G8, No. !l8.

(1 1·o) RELA'riON de ce que l.VLr le Ch(ev11)1im· de Clmmnont a f1tit 11 Siam.

A ROn 11rrinee a b barre de Siam, jl nnnoy11 prim· l'Ene:-

l r

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hATE II

ClwvnJier de Chtonmont.

Detttil frotu tL Priut nt Llw Bibliotheque Ntttiormle in Paris, showing hi,;

reception by King P'm Nnmi.

JiJ. TV. !Iutc/tillsoll.

a

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P'l'. ll] FOUR ~'llENClf R'l'A'I'E ;\lANURCRTl''l'R 203

r l' s ~· c~ t I' t ,_ · 1 · ~~~l • ' , JllllH ttll('{\ CR -·11110 \'Cllll VOll' (1118 C{llDR ;]Olll.','l apl'CR it cJEmx liLmes dl' Sir1m, jl nuL vne gt·!tncle COllUOl'Sttl;ion anee lny en pre,c;ence de l'EncKquo ilm1s h-tqndlo 11pre.S" be11ticonp cle compliltteits jl. luy dit qne Hcttchn.nt Htt probitc;, ot son .r.ele pom ltt Religion jl rmoit re~mlu tlD ne luy rion degniAel' dn Al\jd. de son Amhttssarle, et luy expliqun, l-lll 11il\l'\ll10 temps que c'eAtoit ponl' porter ]c Roy de Siam a RC faire eln·eHt.itm.

Lo

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204 E. w. H U'I'OHINRON [VoL. XXVII

dans le temps gn'on p11doit

1''1'. ll] l!'OU!t l"lU

20() E, W. ][!T'l'CII!NHON [vor,, XXVTT

qu'jl 11 eRtC:} ennoye ponr lo prier de vonioil' hi10n pn·!Hll't)

1''1'. II J FOUH. FRENCH S'l'ATE !llANUSOIUl'TS 20'7

1.\0muw j I :1y1noit forb l'EncRqnc, jl no lny rcfnseroit pn,R deR pouuoirR :ulnn.nt:tgenx pom· ht Heligion.

II n'tt pu perwtt'er ln. raison quo led'. s.r Constttnco a ett, de l1(LUOir p:tH pn.rle dt\ Itt Religion, Ri ce n'est quo luy Chn.umont 11uoit dant.res choRes l1 propoAE\l' n.n Hoy, et qn'iln'n.noit jnsiRte sm· cc Rl~jot, que pom eprouucn· co Roy.

(71-0 ) HEPONRE fa ito :en l\{mnnire eln s.r Chlior cln Chaumont.

Ln Ito.\ elL•. Simn rcmercie S:1 M:t.M de b grn.ndo rdfection qu'Elle it pour luy.

I,l tosmoignc du dopbiRir que le moyen quo S11 Mn.Y' propo.'le pom C\Rtn.bli1· n jmnn.is cotto amitie Roy(Lle qu'il clmlirc trmt, soit ~tussy clifficile a mcttl·H t't. execution comme lc clumgemcnt d'vno Ueligion pt·ofesHee pmiClant deux mille deux ceus vingt neu£ ans, sans mwune jntel'lllission, et ainsy j)JaiSRO a jnger si Vll tel changement est fncile.

II dit HUl' eela erne le veritnble Dien qui a crec toutcs chases ponnoit bien, s'Il eust vonlu, ne faire qu'vne mcRme Heligion, mais

208 E. w. HU'I'CHINNON [VOL. XXVII

creu co qui lny fn,isoit.· (Sr") croire qn'i] y anoit 1\ tlETJUL'l'L', mais qn'i]

falloit n,ttendre tout de Dien, et clu tmnps. Il Je l:euint voir peu de jonrs u,pres ot jl lny dit. qne l

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1'1'. II J l•'OUft FltKNCH 1i'l'A'I'E :MANUSCRll''l'B 200

lle t()ns lus sm·nicC's llu'i\s lloinunL h lutn·il Mandttrins si ce u'eHt dauH nw nucuHHiU) pruRHttnt.u, Et commo .i1 fandm jngor de cotte noccssite pour enitm· tous diifuruW4 SUl' cu snjut, ]~e Hoy 110ll1llll)l'lt vu1Vbnclttl'in du son coste, ut I'ElWHl[Uu llu ::lien vnu pm·som1o d'ttnthlll'ite, et co l[ll'i!H reglomnt ensemhk sem pmwtnellmnent execute.

4. Lnd'. Hoy !tc:cordu pn.roillement. l[Ue si lluelques vnR de ses i·Hl.it)tS chl'OHtienR, pttl' vieilleHSC on jn6rmite soit euidemment illC[L)J-

ILIJlo tlo Hct·uice, eu so prosenta,nt it vn l\la,ndarin que led'. Hoy nom-

JIWl'

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210 K W. Ilu·ruHt:-\su;.; lnlL. XXVIl

lcs tneillemK nwym1s pom ponnoit· suinre l'jncliuaLion 1mtnndle qn'jl a de seruir la m•tiou fmuses qu'a led'. B,oy de Siam, l'empesehe de crolre que le~:~ hollandois soient assez jmprudens pour oser attnqner vn Prince qui les feroit bientost repentir de leur temerite. (llr0 ) Oe qui le coufirme encore chns cette pensee est que led'. Hoy ny sos Ministrcs ne leur ont jaumis donne aucun sujet legitime de plainte.

Sur ce qn'yl m·oit que l'u,nimoHite desd'. holltLndois pent vcnir dm; bons traitemens qu'jl a fait a Itt nation franyoi::;e, ft est curLttin que le seulnom de Ha :Ma.te est cttpable d'empeseher lesd'. hollaudois tle se declarer ses Ennemis, et jl oserait presque assem·er qu'ils se tienclront clans les termes de la raison, quand ils sc;auront l'nJliu,nce estroite

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212 K w. u U'J'Ull !NH00.' [Vol,, XX.VIl

wmn·c::~ ostntngers suie11t uxmnptos do tone:

i'T. ll] F! lU!t l•'ln;l\tcit ~'l'NrE: l\IANUSCHll''l'S

pnmne l'tt]>l'olmtioll duA 1\I.iui:-;truA dn Hoyml!uc ut qu'ullc u'en 1'tt8He point haKtit· snn:-; purmi:-;:-;ion.

En ettH ![Uu quol1p1e l>u,;timent de bd', Crtmprtgnio Hst rmufrttgu :mr luH co::;LuH cln ltoytLmnc du SitLln, lu C:1p.ne de lt1c1'. compagnie\ pom·m en retiret' tout ce qui scm l)Ossible.

LeRoy de Sin.m a.cconlc le Lion de Singot' a htd'. compagnie nuec touteR so:-; depundence:-; pour le fortifier et en v::;er tt ."la volonte nmmt-moinH pom plnsieurs miSOllS, il n'cst Pfif:l a pl'opos ([UO eela ~oit pnblie jus1ln'a ct\que Srt :Mtt.t[: en n.yt ul'lte jnformee et ayt fttit H9.rtuoil' ReA jntentionH.

Led'. Hoy tLyttnt prie luy de Chr1muont de visiter leH fm·termmes de Louuo, n.tin do voir ce qu'il y amoit a fn.ire, Il luy en rendit mison cbu:-; l'n.uclin.noe Huiuante.

' " Jl luy dit ensuite de lltarcpwr vne plttee pout' fnire bastir vne Eglise pour l'I~uel'lque, et jl n'o, point ef1 d'11ndiance qu'jl ne luy ayt po,rle

dncl'. s.r Euesque en luy tosmoignant ttuOil' vne er;time (14r0 ) tonto pt1rticnliere pour luy et pom sa piet6.

Co Roy luy n. marque aussy de lu. joye de ce que los JesniHtes eHtoient d11n~ vne grn.nde vnion anec led'. Euesque.

Dt1Il.'l vne audiance qn'jl luy donna dans los bois ·a l11 ehasse, Illny

dit de dim a Sa Majeste que s'il y auoit quelque formn.lite clans son Royaume qui ne fust pas a l'vl'lage de fmnce qu'elle n'auoit qu'a luy tesmoigner, qu'jl les aboliroit.

llle chargea aussy de prier sa Ma.te de vouloir considerer le S.r CmJHtance, ccimmc vne porsonne qui ]a seruoit bien, et luy clit que comrne

led'. EF Cormtance auoit beaucoup d'enuieux, qu'jl seroit peut c:-;tre oblige apt'CH sn. mc;;'-t de quitter le H.oyaume et de se retiret· en france.

ll lc chargen, n.nsH,Y d'n.uoir soin de ses Ambassttdeurs, et dttns sn, dernierc a.udiance, jlle pl'ia de bien dire toutcs chosm; a Hl1 :Ma..te et qu'jl n'auoit rien do 1)lns chel' n.u rnonde que son amitie ot qu'jl lny tesmoigneroit la sienne dans toutes loR occ11Rions, et qu'jl prioit stt Majeste de luy fn.it·e sc;auoir les chases les plnH curieuses qui seroiont dn.ns toutes los Imles et qu'jl les feroit fo.ire n.uec pbisir.

(14v0 ) ll a fn.it present a l'Abbe de Lionne et au Pore levacher a chacun cl'vn crucifix cl'or en prenant conge de luy, et jl o, fait du

gmnds honnCUl'fl a luy de Ohn.umont, ct luy a donne vn vrtse d'or appelle Bassette, qui est le plus gmnd honnenr que que (sic) le Roy

n.ccorde aux plus qnttli,fiez de son Royttnme.

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214 E. W. Jlu·I'UHI~snN [VoL. XXVJt

Luy de ChtHlll\Otlt r;c loiie hmmeonp do l'EtWSI[IlU qn1 est l'lwnnue du monrle le plus pieux

Iln'tt rien fait dans son Am htHHttdc qu'il 1w luy ttyt eouurnmiqne

et !LUX s.rH Abbez de Choisy et de Lionne ipti HUnt r;onL deux per-sounes cl'vn graml merite.

'I'ItA:\THLA'l'l0:-1

AuooUNT ou' THE CHEV ALlEit DE CHA Ui\IONT'R PUOOEElllNGS IN StA;\1. (l)

" De ChtLmnout, on his arrivtd 11t the Bar, sent to beg the"BiHlwp of Metellopolis to meet him on boa,rd, with the object of informing )1illl of the reactions in Sin,m to hiH Em bttssy. l::fe told both the Bishop uncl the Abbe de Lianne, who accmnpttniecl the Bishop, that the chief lllotivo of: his EmbaKsy wtts to prcvn,il 11nally upon the rKiug of Sittm to hceonw a Chl'ifltittn, since His lVhjer;ty lm

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I 1

l''J'. II] l•'l!Uit I•'IU.:;\IU\1 N'I',\'I'E ii!A~lJNCit\ l''l'8 211)

. Thu Bishop com1~1nnicttted thi:-; to de Olutnmont, siJwe l\lr. Constant. does

not speak 1ft·eneh, hnt de Olmnmont wa.H nnwilling to nmke u.r1y excision. When bmnshtting iuto 1\n-tng·JwHu tho Bi::~hop left out minot• pttsst~ges which he eon:-;idet·od nninlpmt;tnt. 'l'hu R11id Ilfr. Cou:-;tu.ut aRkcd that. he :-;lumlcl bu(l) tiH) it1tul'lm:tm· ltt tho Anrliencu;;, ttnd the Bishop eonRiclnt'e!l that it wonl!l he illlpoRsiblo to rel:nBe hint, Rinco the King· of Sin.m hall entt·n;;ted hi111 with ttll thu lm:-~inuHH of the BmbaHHy.

At hiH tirst amlieuee, ttfter de Olmmnunt. lmcl pzticl hiH re:-;peets to the King a.nd they had been tl'fl.mdz1ted into Siame.~c l1y tlw. Htti!l Mr. Constt1nt, the King enquired rtfter the henlth u£ the King of"' .H'mnce and of :1ll the 1\oyttl :B'amily, 11skiug whether he lmtl lilade any l'ecent cOU!.[Uests. He was informed tlw.t the only conqnn;;t Wl1H

1\ppears corrupt.

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216 R w. Htl'J'OI!INSON [VuL. XX VI I

that or Luxcmlmrg, the which lmrl COlltpcllu

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F.r. n] FOUll FRENCH S'I'A'I'E MANUSOinP'l'S 217

pnst, a,nd know of :HiH .Mt~jn.'lty's intention to tdfonl it every pro-tection.

'l'hu King o:f Sittnl 1-micl fnrthor tlmt it is nt the stnrt thn,t Hpecial precn.ntious must he brought to hom·: to whieh do Chaumont ro-IJlied thttt HiR 1\'In.jor:;ty would Ltt ko such exact r:;tcps ns to prevent the Dutch from lw,:t,m·ding twy umlm-tnking, since the pnnislnnent they lu1d received in their Wttl'H ngttinRt him ,:vonlcl still be freRh in their memory.

'rl10 J\,_ing then asked c1e Chaumont w hetlwr he had anything to sny to hitn. 'l'he latter replied that tho sole object of hiR misRion wa~ to clcchtt'e His lYia.jesty's earnei:lt cle.'lire that the King shonlll cmmcnt to take inRtrnction in the Ohri.'1tia1i. religion.

'l'he King withrlrew. Next clay Mr. Constant called on de Chan-mont n,nrl sp6'k:e at length to him on tho subject of the Dutch, by which he wwe evidence of hiA great, apprehension of them. He aAk-

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218 E. w. HUTCHINRO~ [vnL. XXVII

memorandum, devoted :1hnost uxclnsindy to the religimm issue, with only :1 brief reference to krldc. H iH object WtLH to prnvu tlmt the religious issue was tho sole motive or Iris miHHion.

Chevalier de Chaumont'fl Mem0l'!1nc1nm to the King ol' Siam.

He is commissioned by His JYbjeRty, who lu1d hmml of the King's gre11t qualities, to crave the King's friendship and to offer him hiR own in return, with the object of: fanning an aJlia,JlCe between the two kingdoms to remain for ever nnaffected by tho distnm~o- separat-ing them.

Since the Siame:-:c Mi11isten; in their lettm·s to the M iniRters.. of Frmwe have asked for suggestions afl to the Jlu:tnner hy which this :1lliance could he so strongly cemented ns to 1m handed clown to the Hnccessm·s of these mona;·cl~s, His MrLjesty records his c~nviction that the Rtrongest cement i::; the bond of tt faith held by both in common.

The motive of de Chaumont's mission is to lJeg the King to accept thiR bond. With it in view His Majesty has commissioned him to

place at the disposal of the King of: Siam hiR Janel :1nd serL forces, hiR ttrmics ttnd ships, and everything which can minister M' the King's renown ttm1 to his country'fl weal. If the King ttgrees, His Majesty on his side will he ready to take n,ll othut· Rteps which the King 1leemR rcc1uisite for mttkincr the frienclshij) unendirJO' into which both

b . t"l

Hides nre disposed to enter. 'rhis is the sole matter entrusted to him by HiR l\hjesty: His Majesty urged him, however, through the (King's) Minister to nRe !tll his influence with the SiameHe Court in

ftwom of the Company of: France.

This i\Iemornndum waR handed to Mr. Constant 1or presentation to the King. Two clays htter Mr. Constant ctdlccl on him (de Chaumont) appettring to be somewhat ernbttlTasscd, and st11ted tlmt the etl'cct of the references in the Memorandum to religion would be other tlmn thttt expected, since he had had tt lono· talk on the flHb]' ect with the "' . King, in which he had told the King that until then he had disguised t.he motive of de Chaumont's Embassy, which wt1S the c1nestion of the OhriRtinn religion. 'Chis had grmttly smpriRccl the King, who had ex-elnimed:

"'l'he desire of the King of France is then to make a Christian

" of me. It iH no light matter to abandon a religion which has "ht:on held hy our Royal Family for centnrieH. Ftu·thermore,

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1''1', 11] FOU!.t FHl~NCH H'I'A1'IC l\1A NL'SCltll'TS 2Hl

" il' tho Ct·utltor had so willud it, nll nations would lmve lmd the " NIWW t'ldigion,"

adding, that tt:-: it. \\'tts ubviom; that Hi~:~ MU;jesty'H pl'oposal httd been im;pired by feelings of friendship, ho would gin: tht~ mntter hiR atten-tion, ttncl would reply to the l\Iemomndmn.

cln Clmumont wrtR rtnmzell Itt 1\h. ConRtant'H admi~:;sion that he had only then fm tho first time rovt\aled the motive of the Emhttssy to the King, ttndlutd 11evet· interpreted n,ny of do Chaumont's mo,ny re-

furonceR ~to religion in n,ny of the n,ndionceR owing to 11 conviction thttt tlw mn.ttc'l· We broached to tho King. 'l'hiH Httttement enused gt·e;1t ltnnoymwo to de Clmumont. lVft·. Oon-Htnilt ~:~how(){l hiR HUl'pl'iRe ther·e1tt, and proceeded to ho,nd him the King of Simn'H nwnver to his l\{emm·andnm, and produced ma,ny !trgnments h;:r which he hoped to convince him that bhe iine to be ntlnpt.ed wttR to convert some or the officittls ttnd many of the people, tn hegin with, n mu,tter which he knew would meet with no dis-tLppt·ovttl from the King of Siam, who, because of: his afrection for the BiHhop, would not fn-il to grant the htt.ee powm'R which would he heneficittl for the Fttith.

~

de Clmnmont fttiled' to nnderRtand the reason why the Sfl,icl Mr. Cmmtnnt should not have spoken about the Christian religion nnlesH it WttH thn,t he, de Chaumont, had other proposal,~ to make to the King, nntl thttt hiR motive fm· insisting at all on the subject (of religion) was silnply to test the King'R n,ttitucle towanlR it.

~{eply given to de Olutumont's M GliiOranclnni.

The King of Si1111l thank~; HiH Mt\jesty for the grettt friend.liuess l11.i haH shown towards him, ttnd regl'ets that the rnethod choReu by Hi~; l\11~jesty for l)erpetuating the mutual friendship of their countries in

tweorcl1.1nec with his own ttrdent desire Rhould he ~;o difficult to npply, to wit, tlw clmnge of a H.eligion, which htts been pmctised without

tL break for 2229 yearR; and he calls the world to witnc.'ls whether such 11 change would be easy.

:JTmthermm·e, the King :mbmits thttt tho true Clod, the et"Ctutm· of ·

nJl thin~, had he wishod it, could have created hut tt :-;ingle Religion.

Y ct he showed his preference for diversity in matters of religion, as in all the works of nature. Nevertheless, the King phLces himself in

the hands of the divine Providence to dispose of his person fLllcl king-dom as seems best to It.

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220 E. W. HUTCHINSON [VOL, XXVII

Meanwhile, the King assures His l\f.ttjeHty of t.he finn :111d Ull· changing nature or his hiewlship; and in place of the method 11bove-mentioned, which he en.nnot yet adopt, he decln.1Wl tlmt nothing can ehango or impede during his life-time the relations so mndt desired; also, that he will take steps to ensure tlw.t his sncccssm·s observe them after his death. As proof of the sincerity of his professions, the King empowers His Mnj esty to treat his successor~ and their dominions aR his enemies if they neglect to carry out his ·wishes, and even to take posRession.of his throne. ,

'rhe King states his readiness at any time to sign a treU.ty under which his successors will be obliged to cmry out his wiRhes in ~his matter.

The King will grant the French Company all the facilities which it cn.n in reason expect.

Eight days after this reply had been communicated to him, de Chaumont waited upon the King who was at Louvo. (l) Mr. Constant there confided to him the substance of a talk he had hacl with the King on the subject of religion, in which he had found the King more reasona,ble tha,n he had expected: this led him to believe that there were grounds for hope, but that they must be prepared in all matters to wait upon God's own good time. Mr. Constn.nt came back to see de Chaumont a few days later, and reported that all was going famously. He chose thn.t occasion to hand to cle Chaumont n. memorandum of the requests he was submitting to the King on the subject of the Bisho1) and l\'!issionaries. 'l'he following 0 iR what haR been gmnted.

Privileges granted to the Apostolic l\1isRionari;,q by the King of Siam throughout the length and breadth of his realm,

1. The King of Siam will have a proclamation posted in every .city of his reitlm authorising both the Apostolic Missionaries to pren.ch the Christian religion therein, also the people to nse their own

discretion in giving ear to them, wit.h complete freedom from any possible interference from Governors or other officials, provided that the said Missionaries, in preaching the Divine Faith, shall not under n.ny pretext whatsoever instill into the heart of the people any new notions directed agn.inst the Government and Laws or the land. In ----~------------·-- -·-- ---- ··--··-·-·-·------,·------------~-

(l) i.e. Loplmri.

PT. II] FOUR FRENCH S'rA1'E lliANUSORIP'L'A 221

tlto event of 1mch nction hy tho M isRionttrieR, the privilege will lttpHo, ttnd the Missiow1ry rel:lpomlible will he nrrcstecl and sent back to li'mnce ttnd forbidden to ~:~ot foot t>gnin in the Kingdom under p11in or lloath.

2. ~l'he King of Si11m permits the Apostolic Missionttries to iTmtruct any of his na.turnJ-hol'n suqjccts in any o£ the sciences, and to receive them into any of their mom1steries, RchoolR, 11nd dwellings with similar privilegell to those enjoyed in the other monaRtel'ies of Sinm,n,ncl without constmint from nnyone. 'l'he sai.cl ;\'li:.;sionaries are t1llowc~c1 to teach science, bw, and any other subjects th11t are com-pu,tiblo ·with. the Govemment and L11ws of the l'ettlm. Should a viol~tion of this privilege he proved by two undisputed witnesBes to have occurred, the privilege will lapse, nncl the schoolmn,ster and his pupil will be 1\ubjectecl to the penalties prescribed in the first torticle. Provided however that the sn,icl Missionaries do not exceed the terms of theit· privilege, t1ll the cn,seR to which they are parties shall be

tried by an Officit11 ·whom the Bishop Bhi1ll nominn,te, and the King

will appoint, provided he iB competent to perform these clutieR. 3. 'l'he st1i.d King 11lso gmnts to any of his subjects who 11dopt

Cln·istianity of their own free will tlmt they shall e11joy the privil-eges conceded to the Clll'istians, and be exempt on Sundays and Ji'eastR of the Church, except in an emergency, from all obligations

to their o f11cit1l hen,dmen (l), and Rince there mu~:~t be 11 Court with j mis-diction to decide upon the plea of: emerg·ency, in order to avoid 11ll disputeR on i¥e subject an official shall be nominated by the Kh1g, and a responsible person by tbe Bishop, 11nd their joint decisions shall be carried ovJ.; to the full.

4. 'rhc said King likewise grants that any of his Christian sul~iects who are indispntttbly incn,pacitated for public service by age or

infirmity shall be permitted to obtu,in exemption from such service

until healed by making application to an Official t1ppointecl for thi.'l • pui'pose by the King.

5. To protect Christian converts from any injustice or persecution to which they might be liable, the King o£ Siam allows tlmt the

Offtcial mentioned in the second article shall be judge in all their litigation. Furthermore, in order to twoicl delay, he decrees that the -----·-~-~-

(1) The French "lem·s Mn,nchtl'ins" denotes what wa.s called.by La Loubere ~< chefs de bnnde. "

•

222 K w .. HUTO!I.LNHON Officitd u.fter Htudying the caBo Blw.Jl apply for ttn opinion to OJH.' ol' tho King's judges before giYing judgment, to tho end thnt there h~

no itppeu.l against i.t. 'rho King of Siam wi.ll lutyc theHe ttrticleR proclai.me

rT. II] FOUR FHENOH R'l'A'l'E IIIANUSORIP'l'S 223

vie~ury u\·ur hil-l fous, as hnppened when he was at wttr with the King:-; of l'egu, of tlw Ln.oH, of Chouw,Ol a.ncl of Cambodia, n.Il of which were ttt the lwttcl of their troops; and he has no doubt but that Yictory wil1 fo11ow him when he makes war upon (a nation o.f) mer-chn.nt:-;, who M'C so Llcoply indebted to him.

Ohcmdior do Chn.1nnont's reply to the King'R Memomndnm.

In view of the f-lourishing condition of Siam, which ttll cttn see, of the we.ll-·uigh unlimited number of its inhabitants trained for war, tLnd of tl1'e many Htrongholds posseRRed by the King of Sittm, de Clu~nmont cannot credit the Dntch with such temerity t~s to attack a lVIormreh who would quickly make them rue their ntslmess; ll.nd wlutt confirms him Htill more in this view is that neither the s11id King

~

nor his MinisterH luwe ever given them genuine C!LUse of complaint. Concerning the King's belief thn.t the ftwonrs shown by him to the

French nation may be the ground of the ill will felt by the Dutch, de Clmnmont iH convinced that the mere mention o.f His Majesty's name is enough to deter the Dutch from declaring themselves his enemies, ancl he wonll'l go BO far tts to wager tlmt the news of the intimate allit1nee which ex:iRtB between th() two Ct·o>vns will keep them within the bounds of reason,-which news de Chaumont himself will impart tl) them in the strongeBt terms so aH to lerwe them no room for doubt

tlmt ttn 11i tack upon the King of: Siam iB tant11monnt to ll. clmllenge

to His 1Vbjesty of Fmnce. Hegttrdi.ng the procedure to be .followed in the event of war being

forced upon Simn by the Dutch, if de Clmumont had men and ships .. t1t his disposal he woulrl offer them; hut since he i~ obliged to return

home, all that he ef1ll do is to aHsure the King of: his conviction that HiR lVItLjesty, in the event of war, would use every effort to compel the King's enemies to leave him to enjoy in peace the fl-nits of the.

renown he has won. As to the French Company, there is no doubt, in view of the

facilities the Haid King is prepared to gntnt it, th11t it will 11111ke an establishment in Siam for goodttnd all, and that it will trade exten-

sively therein, especin,lly now that Singor haR been gr~nted to it. by

the King.

(l) ·i. e. Ohiengnmi ('I~

· .. ~.~ 1 ff

•

224 E. w. HU'l'CHINSON [VOL. XXVH

Pl'ivileges gt·anted by the King of Simn to tlw Fl'cmch Cmnp111ty.

1. 'l'he said-King gmnts the st1irl-Compauy permission to establish a F::1etory in the Kingdom of Sittm. 'l'he said Compttny will htwo free 1·ight to trade in the saicl Kingdom with exemption from all duties either on imports or exports, subject however to inspection by Customs officials in accordance with tho usage of the country.

2. 'l'he Company's Agents will be forbidden to ship foreign gooclR under the Coml)ttny's name. Should they be proved to have dono so, tho Company will be deprived of these privileges pencling)nclgment

o[ the case by His lVIajesty (of France). 3. Freedom of 'l'mde met1nR that the Company will enjoy freer]mn

to buy and sell all manner of goods pl'Ovicled they are not "contra-band."(l) r

4. The Company will enjoy the right to buy tmd sell at will any goods imported by foreigners or by mttives of the country, or im-ported by the Company for its own account, provided that the ICing

has preemptive rights over any of the said goods he may need for his service.

5. 'rhe Agents of tho Company mn,y purc1mse n,ny of the said goods, but only for tho service of their master. If they f1til to observe their stipulation and enter into associntion with othm· traders, the Company will forfeit the right to tho concessions al)ove-

mentionecl pending the judgement of His ]\lost Cln·istian Majesty upon the case. r

6. 'l'he King of Siam vvill accord complete exemption from import and export duties to all goods which the Company,;:;arrieR in all Rorts

of foreign bottoms for its own account.

7. rt'he Agents of the Com1)any may not have goods for the account of others than their master; ~tnd should they usc the name of the

Company for the pmpose of shipping other goods, these will be con-fiRcated.

8. T'he Company is authorised to introduce goods into places in which it is not usually accustomed to do so, and to hire as nmny ships-from one or two vessels upwards-as it may need ; and it

Rhall enjoy the- privileges extended under article 3.

(l) i. e. Goorls in whic:h the state reserved to itself the sole right to tradr and whi

j r

i''l'. 11 J FUU!t Fltl.:NCH S'J'A'l'E !IIANUSClUPT.'l 225

iJ. H mty Frenchun•n outside tho sot·vice o£ either the SittnwHc King or hi:,; miniRteno should lmppcn to commit some theft or other miHehiovou:,; action tLgu,inHt the Company m· 11gu,inst his follo·w coun-trymen, the puniHlnnent thereof should be transfened to tlw jmis-cliction of the Cttpta,in of tho French. Should either party disagree ·with tho French Captu,in's verdict n,nd u,ppen,l to the Sinmcso Minister for justice, the decision o£ the Ft'CJJCh Cnptn,in shall be held in sus-pense pending orders hom His l\11~jesty; n,ncl should t:ome Frenchmn,n commit rome a,ction deserving of punishment ngaint any na,tive of the country, tll.e Ci1ptain o£ the (French) Company haH the right to sit on the ,bench among the King's lVIagistro,tet: to o,djndico,te in accordn,nco with the laws of the realm. It would however be preferable i£ fJi'l l\hjesty would appoint a judge to dispense justice due to each ttnd every one, HO "tlmt the Company's servant be spared the nccet:sity of suspending their trade to attend thereto.

10. 'l'he King of Siam grants to the Company the sole t·ight to the tin tmcle in Junkceylon and its dependencies, excluding ttll other nations, and permits the constrnction of tt Fttctory subject to the Bub-mission of pl~ns thereof to the Minister for hiH approvttl, the ·which

shall be followed in every p~trticulnt· without alteration. Fmther-more, tho Company will Le under obligation to ship to Junkceylon

::mch goods as are needed by the inhabitants thereof £or their trade, so as to save them from having recourse to othet· means for supplying their

needs. '.l.'lw latter, failing strict complio,nce with this requirement on tho part of ,the OomptLny, will be authorised to trade with other no,tions without liabilit.y to compln,int conceming infring~ment of the

Company's privilo~e. 11. 'i'he Com puny will ho,ve the right to open Factories in such

places 11s it slmll deem favourable for trade within .the Kingdom of

Simn, provided it obtains the approval of the Si~tmese Ministers, and

that it will have no building erected without Hanction.

12. 'rhe Cn,})t~tin of any of the Cmuptmy's ships wrecked upon the Siamese coast will have the right to sa,lvage all th11t he can.

13. 'l'he King of Siam grants the place of Singor with 11ll its de-pendencies to the Com1Jany, ·with the right to fortify it and to make

such use of it ns it is desired. N overtheless it is inexpedient for various re[Lsons tlmt this concession he mnde public before His Majes-

ty shall luwe been 1nf~l·mec1, and sho,llluwe mo,cle known his plettsure.

" t ...

... ' ..

•

22G K w. llti'l'Cill:-./SON 'l'hu l-mid Kiug (o[ 8ittm), lmviug l'Llt[lWRterl du ClmmllOllL to imr{wct

tlw dorencoH of Louvo n.nd to Hoe wlmt Rlmll l>o dono thoroto, clu Clmumont made hiH t•epnrt nt the next nurlieneo. Hl:l then told him to iix a site for building t1 elmreh for the Bishop. 'l'here waK not tm Audience at which the 1\.ing did not mentio11 to him tlw said Lord Bishop in terms of gl'lmt regnrd both for his pet·son and fm hiR piety; he also expressed to him his delight that fL elmm union nxistml between the ,JesuitH and the srLid Bishop.

The King granted tle Chaumont rtn Amlience ttt 11 lnmti},Jg pttrty in the woods

1''1'. llJ

~ IV O~:ir"J Ob~:~ern~tium; pom Hervi1· a l'In~:~truction

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228 E. W. JluTGIUNsu:-.r [VOL . .XXVJL

( accorde c1ue la tlix.0 partie on ltt 5.0 Hi ello nc HnlliHDit pitH pom;' ht consommation du Royamne ;;eroit pour le Hoy cle 8i1Lill Et cp10 le reHt1111t seroit lim·e ala Comp.ie sur lc pi

l I I l ;j

J I

PT. rrj

]J' Sur b thnnmHlu

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230 E. W. lftl'L'OlllNSO~ [\'Ill,, XXV!l

cent de profHt i:nn· b ftwture pour leH Hmrchnndist~N de fn1neo selonOml t1na,lites que le Hoy clonneroit en oclmnge des tllfl.l'clmnrliHeR dn .Japan De la, Chine et des ttutl'lls EHt11ts deH In des a 8 et 10 pom· cent de pl'Offi.t clu prix cofttttnt NUl' les lioux t1 proportion de h1 cliHtancu (~3Hr") des lieux pour en faire vne avec les 20 et 25. pour cent sur les umr-clmnclises de france, et de ce rrui scm stipule pour les nu1rclmmliseH de Sumtte, de Oormnandel et de Bengttlle t}UO Itt Oompttgnie fen1 ttppo~ter tt 10 pour %.

A legarcl des ma,rclmnrlises clu cru dn H.oyttumc cstime que les enuoyez ne se doiveut pas clepartir de ler,; acheter des part(icnli)ers au prix courant.

dL\ Sittlll on r

Itt ·l iberte

1'1'. II j l•'O U It ~'!tE:-iUI! S'l'Xl'l~ i\IA NUI:lUltl l''l'S 231

l'o)lelusimt (loH 11ub.·ns Nt1t.ions 11 condition de pcn·tor (g9l'0 ) 1111x lmhi-

tttnts du d(it) JoHt1lt11l et clepend(an)eeH lm.; nutrchamlises necuHsaires 11

lum emumerco 11 peine de priuation dn prinilogu. Il t1 uste t·emarque depniH pen pm· la carte et los llifferens memoit·os

(jUO ,Jonsrdmn est 11 la coste clu Nort cle Ivialuctt et nest pt1s eloigne de Merguy et de Tenacerim mesmcs (1ne

"

K w. !lti'I'OIIJNSON [n>L. XXVll r,

qnuhpwH pnx(tienli)urH qui HCHtL rm·mttLH do 8imn, fc.1ieL eoHuoi:,d;ru.(li) l" Qnu ht Hitn;Ltion clu Singcn· eHt truH avantngrumont cbnH lm: mcsates pnyH avec duux ou 8. vttisseaux a ~a Chine

ot an Japo11 ot tmt(re~:~.) lieux, et avec phu; de ftwilite que Ll~ Siam. :3" (~no cln d(it) Singor on pourroit par la riviere fniro le C(,)ltl-

l\1 erco ttiwc los pbceH cle l11 coste cbmt ht prov iuce de Queda ou eHL JtiW:Hdam, et y f~tire porter le poiure et aut(reH) nmrcha,ndises sans

f'

estru oblige de p11sser p11r le cletl'oit de la Sonr1e ny de l\1ahtquo. 1\!IaiH comme 8ingor est nbsolmn(ent) cletrnit ot r1u'et>ttmt Iul't

eloigne do Sitttn, il pal'oit t[n'il connieut mieux d'twoir vne place fttit-

tc, et plns proclw.

Les En voyez ::mns He depttrtir de Ia place de Bankoe(~) qui tt eHt.e promise, doiueut exttminer les ttmtntages qne lou pent tirer pour le

emnmcrce Hoit pttl' l' EtablisHmH(ent) d vu Recluit ou d vn comptoir seu-lt.mt(ent) aud(it) 8ingor, Eusem(hlc), le prejudice LJUe pounoit Hece-voir la, Comp(agn)ie Ittute ely auoir vn Etablissement sur tout pour la fttcilite de ht reception du poime, et pour Itt cmnmodite de I' envoy, lesd(itH) Envoyez s'assm'Ol'ont par le tmitt6 (40v0 ) qui scm fait de

Itt concession dud(it) lien de Singor, on de l'obliga(ti)m~ du Hoy de Sittm clo ne lo pouuoir donner a tLUCllllO Nation"_ Etrangerc sons tn ncldition hy n.nother baud. (~) 'l'he wonl "Rmlwe" h;tR been written 011 by n. RecolHl lmnd in a sp:tce

ldt, l.>lnuk for it.

r r

P1'. 11} FOUR FRENCH STA'J'g i\lANUHCltll'TH

\ In:kt(ances) pour l'ohtenir ~wee lu priniluge du cn,lin quont les Holhtn-cloiil ~" 1 exclusion g( o )ne( ntle ).

Copenchmt ili le Hoy cle Siam en ttceorcbnt B11nkoc/1) ftLisoit diffi-cnlte do donner Ligor ot rp1 aprc:-; rwoir ftLit tontes los ,Jn:-;t:LncoH por-,Hihles pom ohtenir am:lsi le cl\it) Ligor il Ill.\ vonloit pnr le dormer ttn Hoy pom en clispo:-;er a Sa V olonte et qu'il ,·onlnst MlSRi JniRsel' aux Hollandois lll commerce dn Calia, il pal'oit neCOilHttire ely etttblir vn comptoir pour la reception dn poime ot d'ohtenir tons les privi-1 ogw; et 'exemptions N ocessaireH.

De HOl'te que leH ditf:l Enuoyez doiuent dmnandm· (411'0 ) et obtonil' Bttl'ikoc et Ia plttce la plus ttlmnbtgenHo ot ln, plns commo

•

•

284 E. w. HU'l'OHINHON [VOL. XXVII (·

et que le Hoy de Sittm soH ofl:'(ieie)t'H ny :-;uj

P'J', ll] lillUTt IlltENCH S'l'A'l'E IllANUSCJUPTS 2:15 I , :J~t th~.utttut quu lt" lHtnigtt(ti}m cles wtiHHonnx poul'l'oit m.;tre retttrdco

pt~,r des :wciL1entl4 ot que b negotitttiou de Sittlll nu pourroit pttH auoir

est6 tennince }JOm' pouuoir fttit·c ptl.rtir tontto I'EHcadre assez tclllt il

HCmhle qnen ce ctts mmnne t1 tonttes fins on ponroit Ol'clunnor que

deux des v(aisAe)anx Renlemont pouroi(ent) ostre cletachez pour allcr

t1 lad(ite) coste ttus:-;i tost a, pres ltt cleeharg-e c1es marchandises, des

presents et de:.; hmnmes. Soit pour fll.ire reuenir les 11Ut1·es vaisse11nx

a droit.ure en fmuce en cas qu'ils n'eus~:~e(nt) pas du temps pour tdler

tt la Cos~e do Corormtndel, on (43r0 ) pour allor trouver los p(romi)ers

sil y auoit du temps.

Ri. .Monseigneur prend la resolution de fttire pm.·tir l1 1 a1mnce de

Siam deux vaisseaux, les deux Enuoye?. ou l'un clenx pouront apres

auoir acheue lom·s negotiations jusques en decem(bre) aller par terre

a 'renacel'im ~u il;; trouueront encore Le Navire de la Comp(agn)ie l1Ui y cloit hinemcr pom rejoindre les Jeux vaisse11ux et faire a la coste

ce qui conuiendroit pour le soruice, et terminer twec les off(ieie)rs du

Roy de Golconda vn tmitte sur les hostilitez qui MU'Oi(ont) este com-

malJCees par led(it) nauire de la Comp(agn)ie. II paroit :.:lecel:lsaire qn'outre l'ordre de la oomp(agn)ie an S(ieu)r

Deslandes qui eRt aprcsent a Pondiohery de s'en aller a Siam par 'J'onttCerim de luy enuoyer vn au(tre) orclre du Hoy pour Ie mesme eft'et

led(it) Deslandes connoissant parfaittem(ent) le pay::;, ot ayant oRto

honore de la confiance intime du Hoy et du S(ieu)r Constance.

l\Ionseigneur(l) est RUp])lit\ de se Ronnenir quon lny a remonstre (ruon

ponroit laiRser vn naui.re clu Roy pend(an)t vne monsson entierc a ln, coRte pour y terminer les nJi'a,ires le Golcondf\, sy olleR noBtoient .pas

tinios auant le P(1cmio)r tev(ri)er.

(l) This lm;t pamgmph wn,s written by fl diffel'ent lmnd which reHemhles thn.t indicated in the m'4ies on pn,ge 233.

•

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236

Mn,rinr. Sirtm Hl87.

E. W. HUTCITINSON (VOL. XXVII

'l'ltA NSLA 'I' ION ~ Observations on Trade for the instruction of the King's

Envoy:.Pl to the King of SiallL

As long n,go ns 1682 the Kiug of Simn mMle rm off•n' through l\h·. Constant to M. DeslttndeH, Head or the Com-pany's Agency, vvho had won the complete confidence both of the King u,nd of Constltnt. The offer was that he would use hiH influence to obtain the building of t1, fortresR

nt Jore (2lfrom which place the Dutch hnd beml" expelled; nlso to tha.t e{fect he put certn,in facilities n.t the disp9Hal of Deslandes. '!'he lntter howo\'er cln.recl not engage him-Relf therein, though well awa.re of the vnlne of (such) an

·estab1ishment. Baron, the then Director Gen"eral in India was infonned by him of the matter: the Company (in Fmnce) was a.lso informed as early as 1684, hnt took no steps.

At the same time, the King of Sin.m also proposed to

Deslandes to load his ships bound for any ports outside Siam with whatever goodR lw deHired, tmd to bring back a cargo of copper in return free of ft•eight and clutieR.

He n,lso had a plttn for lnttding 11 ship on an unbroken voyage to lmwe Fmnce in Ja.nuary with tt cargo worth 300,000 livres, half in cloth and halr in ca.sh, which he

wonlcl take over, t.he clotl1 ttt 20?0 to 25% abova the invoice price, and the Rilver at current rates. In September the Hhip wa.s to be reloa.clecl a,t Aynt'ia. wfbh Httlt.petre, t.he

remaining Apace being :fi1led with copper and tin. The idea was tha.t this ship would be due with thiH cn,rgo on the

Cormm111clel coast at the end of December, and t.here lot1d up with cotton goods, retaining the su,ltpetre as ballnst, and Het sail again at the begining of February.

'l'he SimneHe a,t that time suHpectecl the Dutch of a design to seize B11ngkok, n.nd they confided their suspicions

(l) 1\01. de Lfl Lonbi:n·e aml Ueberet (in the tmwgin).

(2) Kreppelin, La Compagn·ie des Indes o~·ientales, Paris, 1908, p. 189,

Kbd;e;; tlmt Deslnndes wrote to l3ftron on December 2Gth, 1682, (Arch, des Culouie~, U 1. 22, if 45-40). "

• • • I" " I"

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i ' t

i1

PT. 11] b'OUlt JIHI!:NO!l S1'A'l'E l\IANUSOIUl'TH 237

to ~he Rttid Dec;lnncleR; and ttK the Dnteh lmd been pressing :for a monopo]y of the tmde of ,Tnnkceylon, Deslander:: pl'oventecl it and was encouraged in the hope of eAtttblishing the Comptmy nt that plrwe.

He then made 1.1 tre11ty for pepper by which it w1.1s 11llowed that if one tenth (of the poppet• t1vailtthle) Rhoukl not suffice for the needs of the Kingdom, one fifth waA to he reserved for the King of Si11m, tLncl the remainder was to be sold to the Company at the mte of three livres 11 pound, while foreigners and all others were forbidden to take any out of the I~ingdom.

Seeing that at the expiry of two yearR the Company was still not in tt I\osition to do 11ny trade, the King of Siam sent Deslandes at the end of 1684 to Sumt to c11rry news of the treaty, and to give effect to the sundry proposals that had been rnade. It tlmi:l lmppened tlmt when M. de Chaun1'ont reached Siam, M. Deslandes, who appears to be one or the Company's ablest agents in the East, w11s 11bsent. He never re-tnrnecl, and the business was left in t,he lmnds of a jeweller of PariR

named V eret, who l:Lcked the experience and ability needed to engage in business o£ the kind which was then in hand.

'rhe resul~ was that de Chaumont, when approached fl'Om different

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238 E. W. HUTOIIlNSON [VOL. XXVIT

concerning popper. 'l'lwre art: curtain lllnin elnnHuH in thiH trunty~ 1 o Coneeming the rettuost for fruetlmu of trndu ttncl uxemption

from duties.-Exemption fnnn dnticH i~:~ gl'antecl together with per-mission to buy all sorts of goods provided they are not contraband and that they are purchaRed solely· from the King's Htorckeeper. Hcgarding gooclR introduced hy foreigners or hy the Company for its own account, the Compt•ny lms the right to bny ttnd sell them at will, with the provi:-;o that if the king require:-; auy of the Hl1id goods for his own use he shaJl have absolute right of preemption owJr them. It is also provided that in the event of n,ny abmm thereof by itA agentR, the Company will forfeit its privilegeB pending tt ru1ing·,on the matter by the Most ChriHtian King.

By the termR of this ttrticle the King of Siam conceJes nothing to the Compn,ny, for it is Btill su~ject to the good plen,sure of the ICing's officials, who are entitled to t11ke goods from France at a low price, and (sell) local and foreign goods a.t any price at all that they may choose. According to the admission of the JVfisRionaries, and the infor-mation they have supplied, the Company will never trade successfully under these conditions, especia.lly since it will always he ... t the mercy of the King's officials, no matter how well disposed he himself may be, as indeed he undoubtedly is.

For this reason, since it may be anticipated that the King or Simn will be disposed to grant any terms that ltl'e ren,sonable and ndvttn-tageous, it is felt that the Envoys, in addition to the exemption from duties already granted, should insist upon completefreedom to offer £or sale goods imported by them, ·with the sole proviso tlu1t RUCh

goods and such amounts are sold as shoJI be n,gree~ upon ·with His Siamese Majesty at rates ttnd on termR to be fixed by agreement: they should also insist upon the right to buy without restriction both Siamese goods and those imported from n,bron,d. If however it is not possible to obtain this complete liberty, it will be necessary to insist upon freedom to buy the goods of the country, also foreign goods, without their passing through the ha.ncls of the King's officials.

In any case, it should he incumbent upon the s11id Envoys to obt11in an agreement at len,st upon tho price at which the King of

Siam will accept g·oods from France and from the Coast,(l) and it is

(l) i. e. the Corornandel Coast of Incli:t,

Ill

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PT. 11] FOUlt Ji'RENCH STA'l'E JIIANUSORIP'l'S 239 ~

eHt.:llll!ttutl thn.t thiH Hhoulrl ho ltxcd at a mte 20% to 25% higher tlmn Llw Im·oiet\ ntlue in tho e11He of gourll:l from ]i'l'ttnco according to theit· tp1ttlity; tthw thn,t tho King Rhould give in exchange goods i'rnm Ja})111l, Chirm, and the other states in the Indies allowino·

' b

himHolf S% to 10% pro!it on the purchase price at those places, in propol'tion to the di1'1tl1nces invol vcd, and in Ruch manner that there 1-llmll be tthw n proportion to the 20% to 25% charged on goods from Frtmce; ttl!(l fmthermore, an agremncnt. upon wlmt shall be Htipulated .for the E,"OOdi:l from Sumt, Coroma,ndel, and Bengal which the Company ·will b1·ing' into Sittm,

Jlegarding tlte na,tivo goods produced by Sia,m, it is held that the Envoys must not give way as rega.rds freedom t,o bny them fmm privttte individmols at the current price . .,

Since it appet1l's tha.t tho Dutch ltl'O at liberty to tntde in certa.in

contraband a.rticles such 11s Birdsnosts, Eaglewood, C11bmb11,0l

Calin,(2) a.nd others, it is imperative to obta,in the Hame privileges for the Compa,ny.

AH to forfeiture of rights in the event of their a.lmse by the Com-

pany'::; a.gont:;;, since this.would involve the loss of all means to carry on trade pending n.rriva.l £rom Fra,nce of the King's ruling, this penalty

Hhonld be changed to confiscation of the goods ·which the Company's Agent m1.1y have tmclod under cover of its name.

According to the thh·d nrticle, the King o£ Sian1 gmnts freedom for the Company to load in foreign bottoms on its owi1 account all ma.nner o:f goods free of import a,nd export duties. This clause hn-plies that, uotw,ithstancling the . previous a,rticle, the Company is t1nthorisecl to sot aside goods for free export from Siam: thi::; however Hhould be stated in HO many words,

According to the fourth article, a Aimilar rigbt is conceded to des-

patch goocls(il) 1111cl to freight one or two ships with the ,

-

240 E. 'vV. HUTCfiiNflON [VOL. xxvn

appointed l1y the King to deal with diHrmtel-1 tLHHmg tho French, :(ncl

to Hit on the bench side by side with the SiaJIWHO .Jndg·eH in dir:pnteH between Frenchmen and Sit111WHe m· foroignerH.

The monopoly in tin at ;Jnnkeeylon iH gmntod to the Frmwh tmb-

joct to a proviRo that the Company RnpplieH the inhalJitn,ntH of Jnnk-eeylon and neighbourhood with tho goodH they requil'u for their

trade, under penalty of forfeitme of tho privilegu. It has recently been noticed on referring to tlw nmp as woll as to

tho reports of sundry perRons thn,t .Junkceylon iR Hitn:Ltecl on the

COI1St north of J\Talacca, and that it iH not very far I' rom M ergny t1nd Tenaccrim; alRo that as at Siugm· there iR n. l'l\'Ol' whieh riseR qHit.o cloRe to Junkceylon, it may be iufeiTed thn,t, if Juukceylnu iH ftu·-uished 1Yith rt lmrbonr with facilities similar to those C)_f M erguy, it

would he most m;efnl to the Company not only in rdfonling rofnge to

itA Rhips (in distress) and in the wintor, hut ttlso even for trade in gooclR from the south which would not luwe to pass through tho StntitR

of Sunrla and tho;;e o£ Malaccn,, t1nd especially for lmtcling pepper, of which the largest supply, Ho it iH said, will he ronnel in the dependen-

cies of Ligor which lies hut twenty let1gneH from Singor~ Since the choice between Jnnkceylon and l\1ergny depends upon

:1n exn.ct eRtimation t1R to which of the two tdfords the beRt facilitieH

for trn.cle and protection of shipping, if tlw Envoys are nnablo to ob-tain reliable knowledge concerning the convenience and n.clvantn.g

P'J'. II J ~

lmij it spueilius tlw,t tlw matter he kept secret pe!llling- His l\lajo::~ty's decision.

All tht1t ht1s ht!Oll gttthol'ed from tho memoil'H of M. de ChoiHy, from wlmt the Lord Bic;hop of Motel1upolis has vvritton, tmd hom re-ports by privttto inclivichmlH who htwe retmnocl ll'Olll Siam, KhowM :--

1) That the position of Singm iK most :mited to receive fOl'tifica-Lions at 11 i:lmall coHt; tlmt KhiJls Ct11l l'emnin in the roadR in perfect

HfLfcty fm eight months, while clming the north-east winds they can retire to~Ligor which is cla.imed to bttve 11 good harbour only twenty leagnec; cli~tant.

2J 'l'httt it would be possible to dru,w the1·eto u,ll the ttttdOl'H of Chirm, Japan, Bomeo 11ncl 'l'ungking, also the :Moors, u,n~l to tl'ade in

hoedopl from those ::;ame ports to Chillt1 and Japan by rneu,us or two ~ .

or three ships with greater ease thu,n from (the city of) Siam. :3) That from Sing-or, Ly rncu.ns o£ tho river, it would be poHsible

to mailltain tnttle ·with the cou,stnJ Rtu,tious iu the pl'Ovince of Kedtth in which Jnnkceylon lies, allll to have peppe1· ttnd other goods cal'l'iccl to tho:-;e plu,cus without httving tn pt1Hs through the Stmitf:l of S undtt and' JH ttl u,cctt.

Without giving \\'l1Y regrmling· the citadel of: Bu.ngkok which has been promised, the Envoy::\ shall cone~idel' what benefits would result for tmde from the establishment either of n place of refuge m· simply of l1 CUillll10l'Cial rnctory u,t the aforesaid Singor; then 11H well, what

prejudice t.lw ah;;ence of ttny sueh e::;tablisluneut might involve for the Company, particubrly in the matter o£ couvenienue for collection

and shipment of: peppe1·. In the trettty which will be concluded, the Envoys are to make

sure of obtnining tho coneession of: Singor, or· elHe an undertu,king from the King of Siam to r·efmin from granting it. to u,ny other foreign nation under ttny colour whatsoever, in caBo it appeal'S expedient to ttsk for some Rettlement, other than Singor aforemen-

tioned, on the south coast or on the coa.st of Mt1lncm1. 'I'he only other one appears to be Ligor. If therefore a harbom

really exists there,-11s we n.re given to believe,-lLt which the major portion of the pep1Je1· crop from the vicinity of Ligor would bo collected; if furthermom T~igor proves to be equally or more con-., . venient for the de::;pn.tch of that crop to the north coaHt, the Envoys .

. ':!honkl apply for J~igo~·, t1ncl insist in every posHihlo way in order to

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• 242 K w. llU'J'ClllN~ON [VoL. XX Vll obtnin it together with the monopoly of tho calin tmllo which ~he Dutch enjoy to the excluRion of all othOJ.'H.

I£ however, while gmutiug B!tngkok, the King of Sittm puts forward oqjcctionH to giving Ligor, ttnd if in t~pitc of u,ll poHHible insistence he refuses to give the King the full URe of it, and if fur-ther he desires to leave the calin tmcle to the Dutch, it looks ILH if we should lmve to open t1 tmding post there for the collection of peppel', obtaining from him all the privileges and exemptionH required.

It follows that the Envoys are to ask for ltnd olJtu.in' Bangkok and the most profitu.Lle and convenient establishment on the c~ast north of Malacc[L, whether 1\'Ierguy, or Junkceylon, or smne othel', if any exists which they can be certnin will be more cmitable; nnd re-garding Singoi· or Ligor, the EnvoyR are to study the conditions and requirements of trade with a view to asking for an establishment in one or the other or in both of them.

Since the price agreed upon for peppm: is the price t~t which it sellH on the Malay coaHt and appears remuner11tive, it relllaius to Htndy the conditions obtaining in other matters, thn,t is with regan~ to ~:~election, cost of caniage and the mnount which the King of Simn willrequirc to be reserved for him: these are details on which the EuvoyH Rhould by more especi[Ll stress when considering [L settlement at Singor or Ligor.

Since however M. Deslandes' treaty, in which there remnins a number of other equivocal clauses, contained some Letter terms than

those in the treaty concluded by M. de Chaumont, the Envoys must insist on a clear statement of the tennR to be granted, deleting the cap-tious cbuses and substituting others capttble of ensuring a definite sta-tus for the Oompttny, to wit;-

That all the pepper shn,ll be sold to the Company at the price agreed upon, which under no circumstances whatever shall be capable of in-crease: that neither the King of Siam nor his officials nor his subjects sht1ll ever sell any of it to aither natives or foreigners until the Company has been supplied with it in the placet~ most o,dapted for its trade in preference to any others.

It shall however be permissible for the King of Siam to reserve "'"' for the consumption of his dominions the tenth or the fifth part of the popper collected or brought in from abroad, should His Majesty htwe neocl thereof, even though the c1uantity cpllectecl is insufficient

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1''1'. 11]

' to .~mwide tlw ~mpply l'll(]Uil'C!l by the Comptwy. In the event of tltm:u lKJing lllot'e pl)ppot· tlmn the Company would t11ko, tho King of Niam or hiH oHioittlH will be Ltt liberty to dispose of tho surplm; tts they think pt·oper, pl'ovided tlmt tho Company hnB iiw;t refusftl of ttll it lHJCdH to tho exelusion of ttl! othol'S.

Although tho treftties l'C!{Uil'e tho Company to give notice two

year:-; ttltend rog'!Ll·ding tho limit of its re!ruirements in pepper, in cn:-~e lllOl'D be collected tlmn it needs, 11ncl 11lthough the Company dooH not, thus ttppem· hound to take tho whole crop in excess of its reqniremoitts, nevertheless Hince the Envoys may find themselves call~cl upon to fix a g·iven limit in advance, it iR reckoned that 11

limit of 500,000 to GOO,OOO livres may be accepted by the Company, or even more, if it so wishes, with the option to reduce the 11mount after due no'tice lms been given beforoh11nd in order to en11ble the King's utlicials to know what 11mount they vvill. have to rmpply and whttt to retain.

The Envoys must study the costl:l of selection, carriage 11ncl ship-ping, in order to obtain favoumble terms in the matter of duties ttncl conveyance, ~l{) th11t the trade may he remune1·ative to the Company.

Tho fine levied on those who shall lutp}Jen to have bought pepper

in contm veutiou of tho Com p11ny's treaty h11s been 11ssigned in full to the King. Applic11tion should be mo,cle for the Comp11ny to t11ke one hal£ thereof.

Since the vessels which the King sends out sail in February, it can be reckoned, tha,t they will reach the city of Si11m in August or Scplicmber. If therefore IliA Mt~jesty deRireR tlu'1Jt on their wa,y home they should ea,ll in 11t the Cm·om!Lndol c011,st, they should set

forth at the end of October so as to re11ch that co11st at the end of

Dccel!l her, in order not to be detained there a,fter the beginning of

February. Inasmuch as the voy11ge may he clelttyecl by accidents, 11lso the

negot.i11tions in Sia.m nmy not be finished in tin\e to lmve the whole

squadron under weigh at a sufficiently e11rly lla te, so as to meet 111l contingencies, orders might a,ny w11y be given tbn,t just two ships he detailed to proceed to th11t coast as soon 11s they ba,ve discharged the

goods, the present,s [l,nd the men. rl'he rest of tho squadron could either return to Fmnce clil'ect, i I' it htts no time to put in at the Onronmndcl coast, m· if it h11s tim~, it could join up with the first ships there.

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K W. II U'l'Cll JN~uN n

II' lli~ Lortl:,;hip(l) c:houhl decide to direet that, two :-;hip:-; lu